Illinois notebook: Williams takes temporary demotion in stride

For Isiah “Juice” Williams, the sophomore season at quarterback is beginning to prove as tumultuous as the first.

Tim Cronin

For Isiah “Juice” Williams, the sophomore season at quarterback is beginning to prove as tumultuous as the first.

Williams was pulled in favor of redshirt freshman Eddie McGee early in the fourth quarter of Illinois’ 27-20 win over Penn State. Williams, 11-of-19 in the first half, threw five straight incompletions in the second half, one of them picked off and turned into a Nittany Lions field goal.

McGee was 0-of-3 passing, but smashed through the line to start a 53-yard rush that set up Illinois’ final points of the day, a Chris Reda field goal with seven minutes left.

So who starts at quarterback next week, when Wisconsin visits Memorial Stadium?

“I should be,” Williams said. “I don’t see what’s to stop it.”

“Right now, I’d imagine Juice would start against Wisconsin,” said head coach Ron Zook, who has the deciding vote. “We were trying to spark the offense and settle Juice down, more than anything. He was a little off. He did miss a few balls. I’m not going to say he didn’t.”

“He can do it,” Zook said. “He’s done it in practice. The last couple series, he was forcing it.”

Zook said the last incompletion, a ball thrown toward the feet of freshman receiver Arrelious Benn that was tipped by Penn State linebacker Dan Connor, prompted the move.

Williams took the temporary demotion in stride.

“I have to stop trying to make the big plays and do the simple stuff,” Williams said. “I was struggling. I realize that. It worked out for the better."

Benn to be wild

Benn had been aiming for the end zone since taking the field for Illinois.

In his fourth game, the freshman got there, and dramatically.

He returned a kickoff 90 yards for his first collegiate score in the first quarter, erasing Penn State’s 3-0 lead. The return was an up-the-middle burst in which he dodged the last potential tackler, Tyrell Sales, at the Illinois 40. Penn State hadn’t allowed a touchdown on a kickoff since 1994.

“It is what it is,” Benn said. “I’m here today and gone.”

Benn also led Illinois receivers with six catches for 84 yards, including a 29-yard touchdown pass from Williams. Benn broke three tackles on his way to the end zone.

Around the field

Illinois hadn’t beaten Penn State since 2001, and hadn’t beaten a ranked team since knocking off No. 25 Ohio State the following week. The Illini also haven’t been 4-1 since 2001, and last opened Big Ten play 2-0 in 1991. ... The crowd of 57,078 was a sellout in Memorial Stadium, which is being remodeled, and the largest since 58,495 watched Wisconsin in 2003, when the arena held over 70,000. Next Saturday’s game against Wisconsin is already sold out.